Our Christmas Care Stories

The holidays are wonderful for some but lonely for others. Here, two of our carers talk about how they make things magical for customers at Christmas time.

Jo-Ann, Care Assistant

This will be Jo-Ann’s sixth Christmas as a carer, and her first with Bluebird Care.

“I find the customers can seem to go downhill around this time of the year. A lot of them are on their own and they can get rather sad and withdrawn around Christmas. But this job is so rewarding and I love supporting them. Some of them don’t have family or friends, and even if they do it’s sometimes just me they see on Christmas Day.

“It must be quite hard for them which is why I don’t mind working Christmas Day at all. I have a large family and I know they’ll be there when I get home so we can celebrate together. I couldn’t imagine being on my own for the holidays, so if I can make my customers just a little bit happy, that’s what I aim to do.”

Asked how she goes about that on Christmas Day, it turns out it’s a lot like any other care day, but with an extra special feeling about it.

“It can be just making them a cup of tea and having a lovely chat with them!” she says. “Before Christmas we might help put up their decorations if they’d like us to. I just like feeling like I can give something back to them. With the last few years we’ve had a lot of people’s families haven’t been able to get down to see them, so it’s been very hard for them.

“I’d love to be able to invite some of my customers round to my house to spend Christmas Day with us,” Jo-Ann continues. "Sometimes they don’t even have the means to have a Christmas meal so I’ll just do them a nice sandwich or a soup. I wish I could have them all round on one big table together but I try to do as much as I can do. I take them a little gift, just something from a pound shop so they’ve got something. And just make sure they feel cared for.

“My favourite thing about Christmas is just being there for people,” she adds. I walk through the door and there’s a big smile on their face that somebody’s come to see them. That’s why I don’t mind working Christmas Day. In fact I really enjoy it. My family love me being around, but they don’t need my help. My customers need the care and if I can help I will do.

“I especially love the Christmases I’ve had where I’m sat there singing Christmas carols with customers. Not that I can sing very well, but they don’t care! Even taking a couple of crackers and pulling those and wearing a Christmas hat, or a Christmas jumper. It makes their day, and it’s just so rewarding. The more people can get into care the better for these elderly people who need us on days like Christmas.

Asked what she’d say to prospective carers, she says: “Just give it a go! It’ll be so rewarding with just the happiness you can bring for just a half an hour call. You’ve uplifted these people that are on their own. I’ve had years of Christmases and hopefully I’ve got years to come, all being well. I go back home to my family on Christmas Day happy and joyful that I’ve helped other people. To me, that’s what Christmas is really all about.”

Claire, Care Assistant

A carer for over 20 years, Claire has been with us for nine years now and counts Christmas as one of her very favourite times of the year – both at work and away from it.

“I’m so used to caring through Christmas now,” reflects Claire. “Some people might think ‘ooh I couldn’t work Christmas Day’ but I like to think about it from my customers’ perspective. I might be the only person they see that day so I try and make it jolly and a bit more special for them.

“It’s just nice seeing everyone on Christmas Day. Sometimes I help them unwrap their presents if they can’t manage it, and I just do little extra things for them. I spent Christmas Day with one lady who was having her Christmas Day lunch at her local church. So I took her over there and that was really nice because it was full of other people who would have been on their own for Christmas Day too. The church had put that on for them especially and it was just really nice, and a bit different.

“That was an especially memorable day because they had a choir there too, so it was really Christmassy. They even offered me a dinner! But I couldn’t because I was having dinner later on! It’s funny because I’ve actually had the best of both worlds at times working Christmas Day. I get to see my customers having a nice time, and I I don’t have to cook Christmas Dinner – somebody else does it and it’s ready when I get home!

Asked what advice she’d give to would-be carers, or those looking after a family member this holiday, Claire says: “Enjoy it! Make it a bit fun. Sometimes I wear tinsel or put my funny elf hat on – just to make it special. The more you give in care the more you get out of it, and at Christmas it can be so lovely just being there for people who need it. The more they can see you care, the more special it will be for them too.”

Are you caring for someone this Christmas?

Whether you’re looking after a loved one or you work in care yourself, we’ve published an array of helpful advice this year that can help you give the care you need and look after yourself at this busy time.

From tips to boost senior citizen wellbeing to advice on stress management and avoiding carer’s fatigue, the advice above, together with blogs below can all help you make caring through Christmas as magical as possible.

Or if you’re curious about a career in care, visit our Gosport carers jobs page to see our current vacancies.

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